legend of Spyro AoH BkII Ch.23

Spyro yawned. He stretched and flexed his claws, opening his jaws wide.
"That was a big one." Cynder mumbled. She opened her eyes, having been woken up next to the purple dragon. She looked back over her shoulder, letting her forehead bump the bottom of Spyro's jaw. "Sleep well?"
Spyro nuzzled her back and continued to stretch. "Yeah, I did." He arched his neck and back allowing his vertebrae to pop. "But for some reason I still feel drained somewhat."
Cynder's eyes opened wide. "Drained?" She echoed without turning to face him.
"It's nothing to worry about." Spyro shook himself. "Maybe it was just the battle yesterday."
"Spyro." Cynder looked back to face him again. "The battle with Titanus ended three days ago."
"What!" Spyro gasped and dashed out to his balcony. He stood on his hind legs and looked out across the city. The damage far below was almost unbelievable. Moles and manweersmalls worked in teams to get the debris moved from the streets. The flames were gone but smoke trails still lingered from the hole in the mountain. As he stood there taking in everything, Cynder got up with a quick stretch and approached him.
"It's terrible isn't it." She said sadly as she looked down at the ruins of the city.
Spyro just nodded, at a loss for words. He let out a sad sigh and turned to face Cynder. "How is everyone doing?"
"Alive." Cynder nodded with relief. "No one was fatally hurt during the battle." She looked out at the impact mark that spread across the horizon. The darkness that had resided within the ancient dragon Titanus had corroded his body in the early hours after his defeat. The only remaining sign of the juggernaut was the burned landscape and the mark he had left in the earth.
"And what about Flame? How is he doing?"
"He's doing fine if not a little drained himself. He used up a lot of power against Titanus." She looked back across the landscape towards the mountains in the distance. "It's a good thing you were there to help save him from using up all his power at once."
"I suppose." Spyro nodded. He was still worried about his friend. "I want to go see how the others are doing." He said and spread his wings.
"Wait for me." Cynder called as she followed after him. The two dragons glided across the city and passed the hole that Titanus had burned through the mountain. Spyro stared at the melted rock that covered the inside.
"Such a powerful monster, under Malefor's control." He thought to himself. "I wonder what other challenges lie out there waiting for us."
As they continued on, they spotted Ember heading to Flame's room.
"Ember!" Spyro called out to the dragoness. The pink dragoness stopped and squinted against the glare of the sun. When Spyro and Cynder were close enough she smiled.
"Spyro, I'm glad to see you're finally awake." She chirped as the two dragons landed beside her. "How do you feel?"
"I'm doing fine." Spyro nodded. "And you?"
"I'm very well." She moved closer to the purple dragon. "Flame is resting in his room right now. Were you planning on coming in?"
"Well, if it's not too much trouble." Spyro averted his stare.
"Not at all." Ember shook her head. "It's the least I can do." She took another step closer until she was nearly nose to nose with Spyro. "After all, you did keep your promise. Thank you." She leaned in and kissed Spyro on the cheek. For a moment Spyro was paralyzed, unsure of what to do or say.
Ember stepped back and looked at Cynder who was just about as speechless as Spyro. "Sorry." She grinned, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"I'll let it slide." Cynder gave a half smile. Ember giggled innocently and led them to Flame's room. When they entered Spyro and Cynder found the room furnished with both Flame and Ember's belongings.
Flame, who had been resting on the pad of cushions near the fire place, raised his head when he heard them come in.
"Spyro!" He said in surprise.
"Hey Flame." The purple dragon walked over with Cynder and sat down beside the fireplace while Ember sidled up to Flame.
"It's good to see you up and about." He smiled. "I heard you had passed out not long after I did on the battlefield. What happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" Spyro tilted his head questioningly.
"I heard you went all super powered on Titanus. You used your fire element and beat him almost without effort."
"I did?" Spyro raised a brow.
"You mean you don't remember?" Ember stared at him. Spyro shook his head with his jaw slightly open. "You and Titanus were fighting and just when it seemed you were about to lose, you...changed." She shook her head, at a loss for words to describe what she had seen.
"Changed? Like how?"
"It's hard to explain." Ember brought her eyes up to meet his. "I was like you went through a transformation. You were you, but also not you." Spyro blinked a couple times, not sure what to make of what she was saying. "Your skin changed color and you power easily increased a hundred times over."
"Wow." Spyro shook his head in disbelief. "I don't remember any of that. Do you Cynder?" He turned to face his dragoness.
"Not really." Cynder shrugged apologetically.
"All I can say, is that new power you used would definitely wipe Malefor out for good." Ember continued. "I wish I could describe it better but to call it anything less less that amazing would be a major understatement."



That night Spyro tossed and turned in his sleep. He had rolled away from Cynder, leaving the dragoness to her own dreams.
The sky above was overcast  and snow fell across the land. Dante's Freezer was quiet except for the crunching of snow beneath the purple dragon's feet.
"I hate how quiet it is here." Spyro muttered to himself. He made his way through the old, broken and weathered battlements. The memories of this frozen war zone seemed all to familiar. Spyro's muscles tensed as he stalked through the fortress. He had no idea what he was there for or why, but he was preparing himself anyways.
All around, Spyro could hear the wind howling throughout the fortress. Then suddenly he heard another howl, but not from the wind. The purple dragon looked up and saw he was suddenly surrounded by wolves. The canines all bared their fangs and tightened their grips on their weapons. The leader lunged for Spyro without hesitation. The purple dragon rolled to the side and fired a burst of flame. The wolf shielded himself, but looked up in surprise when only a ring of smoke puffed from the dragon's mouth.
"What in the heck was that?" Spyro asked himself and coughed. Once again, only smoke and cinders. The wolves all looked at each other as the dragon repeatedly tried to use his fire breath.
A toothy grin spread across the leader's mouth and he lunged for Spyro again. The wolf swung his blade and missed Spyro by the merest of inches. Spyro ducked and head-butt the wolf in the gut, sending his body high and crashing down. No sooner had the leader hit the ground than the rest of the wolves joined in. They sprang into the air with wild yips and barks, wielding their weapons. Spyro tried to charge up a ball of electric energy but nothing happened. He let out a terrified scream as the wolves brought their weapons down on top of him.
The purple dragon yelped and sat straight up. Sparx had been sleeping nearby next to Cynder, heard the noise and sat up.
"Hey, Spyro. You alright man?" He rubbed his eyes and stared at his brother through the darkness.
"Sparx." Spyro gasped, surprised to see his brother awake. "I'm sorry. I just had a bad dream."
"More like a nightmare from the way you were just screaming there."
"I'm sorry." Spyro chuckled to try and play it off. "I'm going to get some water. I'll be back in a bit. Just try and get back to sleep."
Sparx yawned and moved closer to Cynder. "Can do buddy."
As Spyro headed for the door he stopped and glanced back at Cynder who hadn't so much as twitched. Seeing his dragoness so peaceful made him relax more. "Sleep well." He whispered before he disappeared down the halls and towards the pool of visions.
Meanwhile, Cynder was busy with her own dreams. The black dragoness hurried down the corridors until she finally came to the familiar white portal. She stepped through to find Ignitus waiting for her.
"Ignitus!" The dragoness cried and hugged his massive leg.
"It's good to see you Cynder." The chronicler nuzzled her lovingly. "I only wish it were on better terms. I don't seem to have a good history with meeting with you and Spyro when there isn't trouble lurking around."
"What could it possibly be now?" Cynder asked as she sat down on her haunches. "I know Spyro is going to lose his powers. I can't stop him from losing them but I can take steps to help protect him though."
"Yes indeed." Ignitus nodded. "You will need to become stronger in order to be able to protect Spyro from Malefor."
Cynder gave an amused smirk. "I guess I should train with the guardians then huh?"
"Oh Cynder." Ignitus shook his head sadly and the smirk disappeared from CYnder's mouth. "I'm afraid even then your power wouldn't be enough."
"What? Why not?" She was immediately up on all fours, tail lashing the air defensively. "I'm the strongest dragoness around!"
"I'm afraid it won't be enough." Ignitus sighed. "According to what has been written, Malefor will gain a significant increase in power in the coming weeks. And when he does, he will be almost as powerful as he once was before he was sealed away the first time."
"The first time? Was he stronger then, than when Spyro and I fought him?" Ignitus nodded. "Well shit!" Cynder hissed and black flames spat from her mouth and nostrils. "What am I supposed to do?" Cynder demanded angrily. "Just let Malefor take over and kill Spyro?"
"Cynder, you're not going to like the solution I have for you." Ignitus turned towards the hourglass to divert his stare.
"I don't care! Tell me what it is Ignitus!" The dragoness ran in front of the chronicler, forcing him to face her. The chronicler paused as he stared down at her in self-conflict. "Please! Ignitus, you know I'd do anything for Spyro!" She felt tears begin to pull at the edges of her eyes again. "I love him!"
Ignitus saw determination in her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. "Alright, Cynder." He paused for one final moment. "The only way for you to obtain the power you will require to protect Spyro..." His voice trailed off. "Is if you join the Dark Master's forces again."